Powerhouse Season attracts theater, TV stars

Mark Kennedy AP Drama Writer

Posted:
05/21/2014 02:25:50 PM MDT

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This March 1, 2014 file photo shows actor Josh Radnor at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. Radnor of ?How I Met Your Mother,? will star in Richard Greenberg?s play ?The Babylon Line? from June 25-July 6 at Vassar College. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — The world premiere of Richard Greenberg's new play "The Babylon Line" has drawn an impressive who's who to Vassar College this summer.

Josh Radnor of "How I Met Your Mother," Leslie Bibb of the "Iron Man" films, and Tony Award winners Randy Graff of "City of Angels" and Frank Wood of "Clybourne Park" will star in the world premiere of Greenberg's "The Babylon Line" from June 25-July 6.

The Powerhouse Theater program at Vassar — a collaboration between New York Stage and Film and Vassar that this year is celebrating its 30th year — attracts writers, directors and actors eager to develop new works in a collegial, cloistered setting in Poughkeepsie, 70 miles north of Manhattan.

In addition to Greenberg's play, John Patrick Shanley will direct his new play "The Danish Widow" from July 16-27. There will also be a first-ever reading of David Lindsay-Abaire's new play "Ripcord," directed by "Frasier" star David Hyde Pierce and featuring T.R. Knight of "Grey's Anatomy." A reading of "Turn Me Loose" by Gretchen Law will feature Joe Morton of ABC's "Scandal."

This summer will also feature a large-scale dance ensemble performing "In Your Arms" from July 5-13. It involves 10 playwrights — including Douglas Carter Beane, Christopher Durang, Carrie Fisher, David Henry Hwang, Rajiv Joseph, Terrence McNally, Lynn Nottage and Alfred Uhry — writing vignettes for the new dance piece directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, with music by Stephen Flaherty. Some of the performers will include Ryan Steele of "Newsies" and Tony winner Robert Morse of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."